ASK A KING: MICHAEL CAMMALLERI

Last week Kings fans emailed in questions for Kings right wing Michael Cammalleri. The following is what the fans wanted to know and what Mike's responses were in our December Ask A King.

What do you like to do to relax before games or during non-game days?Candice from Playa Del Rey, CA

Usually when I'm not playing or practicing, I'm either running a few errands or relaxing at home. I also like to go out to dinner with friends. I find that relaxing. I try to save my energy as much as I can during the season.

How's the NHL different from the AHL? Do you miss Manchester at all?Ashia from Manchester, NH

I had a great time in Manchester. I miss the fans there and I had tons of fun. In the NHL, the hockey is different and the travel is different. You're traveling a lot more and you're traveling in airplanes rather than on buses. The schedule is also different. In the NHL, you're playing every other night and in the AHL it's a weekend league.

Mike, how come the number 13? Does it have any special importance?Doug from Ventura, CA

My first year I made the Triple A team, my father kind of lied about my age. I was the youngest guy on the team. The coach came into the locker room after making the final cuts and threw all of the jerseys on the floor. All of the parents were standing there with their kids and all of the kids went after the jerseys. When I went to grab mine, my dad stopped me. He told me to wait for everybody else to go first because I was the youngest on the team. The only jersey left on the floor was No. 13. At that time, I was really upset. I didn't talk to my dad for two weeks. The only guy in the NHL wearing that number at the time was Kenny Linseman and the only thing I knew about him was that on Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em video, he scored into his own net. I wasn't a big fan of the number, but I ended up having a fun year and I've worn No. 13 ever since.

Being one of the smaller players on the ice, how have the new rule changes affected your game?Larry from Boston, MA

They've allowed me to skate more with the puck and make more offensive plays. The rules give you a little bit more room out there.

I'm a Michigan grad and am a huge hockey fan, so I was wondering, what is your favorite hockey memory in college or pro?Cami from Oakland, CA

My favorite pro memory would probably be my first pro game. In college, it's tough to say because there were so many. Both Final Fours and probably the Cold War game (Michigan vs. Michigan State) witnessed by 75,000 fans.

Do you know why our team has had trouble this season beating the Red Wings?Harut from Montreal, Canada

We've played well against them a couple of times but we haven't come up with the win. They're a good team but I think we can beat them. We've just got to try and limit some mistakes against them. That's all.

If you weren't playing hockey, what other career opportunities would you have in mind?Leah from Los Angeles, CA

Tough to say. I think I'd be doing something related to real estate development, but I've kind of always wanted to be a hockey player. I've never really put too much thought into anything else.

How much daily skating did you do growing up in Richmond Hill, Ontario, and when did you start playing organized hockey with referees?Mitch from Portland, ME

I started playing organized hockey when I was five or six years old. We skated a lot and played a lot of hockey as kids. If weren't playing ice hockey we were playing street hockey or foot hockey or hand hockey.

What do you like most about LA, outside of hockey?Frank from Manchester, NH

The weather.

Who were your idols in hockey growing up in Canada?Gina from San Bernadino, CA

Wayne Gretzky.

Who is the toughest team in your opinion to play against and why?Steve from Ann Arbor, MI

We've always struggled to beat Detroit, so I'd say the Red Wings. They always have a strong team.

What areas do you think the team can improve on, so that you guys have a better fighting chance when it comes to playoff time?Aron from Lancaster, CA